Regardless of your feelings towards the Murder Inc. crew, Ja Rule and Irv Gotti incapsulated everything wrong (and seemingly perfect) about hip-hop in the early 2000′s. While Ja’s music relied more on mainstream appeal than lyrical authenticity, he knew (subconsciously or not) what would sell in a climate obsessed with TRL and commodified thug culture. He covered up rhymes about “fucking hoes” and “smoking blunts” with Ashanti’s sweet voice and Top 40 approved beats, making parents of thirteen-year-old girls a little less worried about that dreaded “parental advisory” sticker.

To celebrate Ja Rule’s brilliance, and his recent release from federal prison last week, here are a few of his greatest musical accomplishments throughout the past fourteen years. Everyone pray for a Ja Rule trap comeback.